questions from you no. 26

Posted on 25. Oct, 2010 by Princess Lasertron in alice, business, questions from you

…All from formspring!

Q: You do a lot of speaking engagements! Are you ever nervous?

A: I’m always nervous!! I always tell my friend Eric before an event, “I’m so nervous! I’m so nervous!” whether it’s an event where I’m speaking alone, speaking with someone, or on a panel, or even if it’s just a conference or a business-related social event. I wouldn’t say that I have social anxiety–I have been a pretty good talker throughout my whole life–but rather anxiety about sounding authoritative and respectable about my industry. Like, “Will people believe me?” “Will they take me seriously?”

I feel a lot of pressure sometimes to be some kind of business leader. I feel like I’m a great worker and achiever, I know that I’m not a follower, but I don’t want to be a leader either–I just like working alone, almost in a vacuum. I like accomplishing a task and moving onto the next one. It feels great to get credit but it always feels hard to talk about my work–whether it’s Princess Lasertron, CAMP, or other ideas I have for the future–or explain it to others. Sometimes I secretly wish I had a magical body double who could just explain everything for me, and speak for me, so I could just move on to the next thing.

Q: I know you’re very goal-driven and always full of ideas. So what’s next?

A: What a question. Tomorrow I want to take my camera to get repaired, do errands at Target, sew a dozen felt notebook covers for Christmas orders, upload a bunch of things to my store, and go out to lunch. This year I want to sell 100 dresses (and give one away!), finish my book proposal, and launch an online magazine. In the next five years I want to start a local K-3 charter school that applies the coworking concept to co-learning. I want to use experts in our community to teach kids about their passions, from photography to design to wildlife to writing stories, anything. I feel like this is what I want to ultimately create in my community, what I hope will grow into something much bigger over time. What I want to be my legacy.

Q: I think Alice is so cute! Do you think she looks like you more or Dave? And has she grown enough hair for you to tell what color it is?

A: I think she looks just like Dave–I don’t really see myself at all, except maybe in her face shape. Dave has an oval-shaped face and mine is more round, like Alice’s, but all of her facial features are just like his. I still can’t tell what her hair color is! She has no hair! I suspect blonde like mine, or maybe red.

Q: What motivates you as you choose your priorities, make decisions, etc?

A: Right now my most of my business decisions and spending choices hinge on the question of whether they help or hinder my goals. The “what’s next” list that I ran through up above. Any local notoriety I gain now can possibly be parlayed into support for the events I plan and school I eventually want to realize. Any publicity I can drum up can mean more money, which means more capital for my projects (and applesauce for Alice’s tummy), and more likelihood that I can eventually write that book and found that school.

Q: I’m in high school trying to figure out what I want to do when I graduate. How have you “changed” since you graduated high school/college/got married/reached adulthood? What has stayed the same?

A: When I was in high school I thought I would never change, and I never wanted to because I liked being cynical, sarcastic, a little smart-assy. I felt like I represented my ideal version of myself–formidable, assertive, independent. But oh I have changed so much, even in the last year. I am more empathetic to others’ pain. I think I am nicer, less selfish, and more sensitive to the complexity of other people’s lives, which informs why they act the way they do. I’ve learned that it’s okay to admit that you’ve changed your mind. Becoming a parent changed a lot about my worldview, but don’t rush into that or anything. I also appreciate education MUCH more than I did when I was in school.

What has stayed the same. I’m just as emotionally intense. I have just as much existential anxiety. I think I’m still funny, and I still appreciate the same type of humor. I like the same music (plus more). My friendships have grown deeper.

Q: What are five things that make you SOOOOO happy? What’s your “instant happy?”

A: 1. New blog posts on Tom & Lorenzo. 2. My husband surprising me with pancakes made into shapes. 3. Yanking the end of a roll of ribbon on a spool. I order the FATTEST four-inch double-faced satin ribbon and take great pleasure in every length I cut from it. 4. Alice’s first smile every morning when she sees me. 5. Browsing design inspiration on FFFOUND! 6. One more for good measure–when one of my coworkers brings me a muffin from the coffee shop.

xo
meg